Outdoor Air Conditioner Safety

[Leigh]

I have one little boy (4 y.o.) who is obsessed with my central air unit outside, and even though it has a guard on top of it, I'd like something to put on or around it so that he can not stick his little fingers in there when I am not looking...does anyone have anything like this or know of anything? I just obsess over safety, and can't stand not having it completely guarded!

[MsLaura529]

My parents always had a garden around theirs ... so maybe some mulch and a little garden fence?

[Leigh]

My parents always had a garden around theirs ... so maybe some mulch and a little garden fence?

Not a bad idea..mine is completely surrounded by landscaping rocks, but I'd be willing to put up a fence if I had no other options!

[sharlan]

I have one little boy (4 y.o.) who is obsessed with my central air unit outside, and even though it has a guard on top of it, I'd like something to put on or around it so that he can not stick his little fingers in there when I am not looking...does anyone have anything like this or know of anything? I just obsess over safety, and can't stand not having it completely guarded!

I was asked by my analyst last summer to cover the top of mine with wire mesh (using zip ties) to prevent the kids from dropping little rocks inside. Evidently they had had several injuries last summer.

[Leigh]

I was asked by my analyst last summer to cover the top of mine with wire mesh (using zip ties) to prevent the kids from dropping little rocks inside. Evidently they had had several injuries last summer.

I never thought of zip ties! I had been searching online for something designed specifically for this, and came up empty! I may just take both of these ideas, put the mesh on and THEN build a fence around the thing!

[sharlan]

I don't know how to post pics, but I can send you a text of it.

[spud912]

I have a fence blocking off that portion of the yard.

[AmyKidsCo]

You probably wouldn't need a huge fence - just that green wire fencing arms-length away should do it.

[SilverSabre25]

I saw something recently where someone built a wall around theirs...

not sure of the original link though. Sorry!

Here are a few: http://www.ehow.com/info_11367880_gu...ditioners.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5105511_beautify-conceal-central-air-conditioner.html

google search

[daycarediva]

I built a fence around mine, per licensing requirements.

[Leigh]

I built a fence around mine, per licensing requirements.

Our state doesn't require it, doesn't even address it. I never considered it, myself, until this one child made it his mission to run to it every time he thinks I'm not looking! They should.

[Play Care]

I built a fence around mine, per licensing requirements.

I'm in the same state and I've never seen this reg. None of my licensors have ever said anything about it. But mine is in an out of the way spot so I don't even know if they saw it.

[butterfly]

I got a vinyl fence from Lowes. I tried to post a link, but apparently wasn't searching the correct key words to find it online.

It is a 3 panel fence made specifically to go around the central air unit. It's about 4 feet tall (maybe 4 and 1/2 feet). It looks decorative and keeps the little ones off the a/c unit.

It's very easy to install and very easy to remove if you need to access the a/c unit. And yet sturdy enough that the kids can't remove it.

[Sugar Magnolia]

They sell plastic fencing at Lowes, made for this use. $30. Yes, the child's safety is important, but honestly, so is the safety of the air conditioner. I don't want to replace.a $4000 unit because kids like to toss mulch in there.

[LoraJenkins]

My Husband is a HV/AC technician. I will ask him suggestions when he gets home. One thing I do know is that you do not want to block air-flow to your unit. But as far as fencing around it, I do not see an issue. Just remember that your service technician will need access to the unit twice a year for routine maintenance so you may want to add a gate for that.